Mufti: Financial resources for dev of districts must be used carefully -Says, liabilities inherited from the previous govt quite huge, Sanctions Rs.10 cr for maintenance of Mughal Road

Written by JPNN

Tuesday, 30 June 2015 17:13

Jehlum Post News/Rajouri/June/ 24, 2015/ Stressing upon dovetailing Central and State Plan schemes to execute projects fraught with financial constraints, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Wednesday said the Government will closely monitor implementation of District Capital Plans to see that allocated funds are utilized in full.

He said the Government has also reserved 1/3rd component within the Capital Expenditure Plans to defray huge liabilities in a phased manner, which have been inherited from the previous regime. The Chief Minister made these observations while chairing the District Development Board meetings of Rajouri and Poonch districts, today. Besides Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar and Minister for Public Works, Gardens & Parks, Syed Altaf Bukhari, who are the Chairmen of District Development Boards of Rajouri and Poonch respectively, Minister for CA&PD & Tribal Affairs, Ch. Zulfkar, Minister for Transport, A. G. Kohli, MP, Jugal Kishore, Legislators, Qamar Hussain, Ravinder Raina, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Ch. Mohammad Akram, Javed Rana, Yashpaul Sharma, Vibod Gupta, Surinder Chowdhary, Dr. Shahnaz Ganai and Shamlal Baghat also attended the meetings. While ` 197.94 crore Annual Plan for Rajouri district has been approved, a Capital Plan outlay of 173.16 crore for District Poonch was passed in the Board meeting. The Chief Minister observed that in the past few years, the State has been found wanting in effective implementation of Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) which has deprived the people of the benefits envisaged under these projects. He said by blending fund kitty of 6,000 crore Central Schemes with 3,100 crore allocated to Capital Plans by the State, the districts have been granted enough financial resources to create durable assets and ensure every penny is utilized in creating basic amenities for the people living in remote areas of the State. Laying emphasis upon maximum utilization of funds allocated under District Plans, the Chief Minister said the performance of the officers will be determined by the completion of ongoing projects and successful implementation of various social sector schemes. The Chief Minister said creation of NITI Ayog at the Centre has changed the pattern of funding and ensured that each state gets its due share in Central taxes. He said the new structured scheme of financing District Plans will help in completion of unfinished projects. “Unfortunately, we have inherited liability of over 9,000 crore, including 3,000 crore on account of works executed without tendering and adhering to codal formalities,” he said and added that ways and means have to be explored to clear the backlog. Referring to the empowerment of people at the grassroots level, Mufti Sayeed indicated holding of civic body elections later this year. He said dillydallying over holding of elections by the previous Government blocked 1500 crore Central package, which would have gone a long way in developing towns in remote districts under UIDSSMT (Urban Infrastructire Development Scheme for Small & Medium Tows) and IHSDP.Expressing concern over critical condition of certain stretches on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the Chief Minister sanctioned 10 crore for maintenance of Mughal Road so that it can be used as alternate connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir Divisions. He also called upon Border Roads Organization (BRO) to improve the critical stretch from Thanamandi to Buffliaz on the Mughal Road. Referring to the huge potential of Rajouri and Poonch districts in heritage and leisure tourism, the Chief Minister directed the Tourism Department to focus on creation of wayside amenities at different locations to facilitate the visitors. He also issued immediate directions to Director Tourism Jammu to take up development of Krishan Chander Park at Poonch as a major Heritage Destination. Referring to the cross-LoC trade and travel, the Chief Minister said he has taken up the issue of starting banking and telecom facilities at Chakan da Bagh in Poonch and and Salamabad in Baramulla with MHA and MEA so that it is discussed in the Joint Working Group meeting between India and Pakistan. Placing high priority on monitoring quality of roads, the Chief Minister issued immediate directions for macadamization of all important road links in Rajouri and Poonch districts. “A Defect Liability Period (DLP) of three years for all contractors has been fixed by the R&B Department for ensuring maintenance of roads,” he asserted. Calling for rationalization of healthcare sector, on pattern of State Education Department, Mufti Sayeed said the new Recruitment Policy is being announced very shortly which will facilitate filling up of nearly 15,000 vacant posts on a fast-track basis through Service Selection Board. He also announced setting up of two health institutions as Model Health Centres in each constituency of the State. Also present in the meeting were Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner / Secretary, School Education, Shaleen Kabra, Secretary to the Chief Minister, M. H. Malik, DIG, Poonch-Rajouri Range, A. K. Atri, besides Divisional Heads, Deputy Commissioners of Rajouri and Poonch districts and Sectoral Officers of the two districts. Other important decisions – Rajouri / Poonch1. Funds to be released for completion of Nowshera College2. Work on roads with BRO and PWD to be expedited; Forest clearance issues to be sorted out3. Resolving the issue of land compensation to make Abdullah Bridge in Rajouri functional4. 1 crore placed at disposal of DC Rajouri for development of Rajouri town5. ITI to be established at Kotranka, Darhal in Rajouri 6. Completion of Community Hall at Rajouri7. 3.00 crore for facilitating completion of Mini Secretariat, Poonch 8. Development of Park at Jallian, near Buda Amarnath, Mandi9. Development of Krishan Chander Park, at Poonch by Tourism Department under heritage tourism10. Development of Poonch Fort 11. Surankote & Mednhar Girls’ Higher School to be developed as Model Schools 12. Examining viability for revival of Cement Plant at Sathra, Mandi 13. Feasibility for ropeway from Loran to Tosha Maidan14. Taking up reconstruction of 132 KVA Transmission Line from Draba to Chandak on new alignment15. Renovation of Town Hall, Poonch as Heritage building16.The work on construction of Sakhi Maidan-Kalai Road, Mendhar, to be taken up under NABARD.